Self Advocate: A Hero In ACTION Molly Sullivan, Associate Center for Social Capital

WHAT ARE YOUR POWERS??

An Advocate’s Power KNOWLEDGE = POWER Know yourself!  Self-Awareness K now what change you want

An Advocate’s Power KNOWLEDGE = POWER Know your community!  Rights and Responsibilities Know what the process is to make change  Social Capital Know who can help and know how to develop and maintain those relationships (Support Team)

What is Social Capital (Team Support)? Robert Putnam defines Social Capital as: “the social networks and the norms of trustworthiness and reciprocity that arise from them.”

What is Social Capital (Team Support)? Social Capital (Team Support) Focuses on: The people you know, and the people they know (Social Networks) AND The Character of these Networks The Strength of our Ties Levels of Trust Levels of Reciprocity

What Social Capital (Team Support) means to Advocates Change takes a TEAM You can be self- aware, know your rights and responsibilities, but without team support change might not happen

2 Types of Social Capital 1. Close Relationships (Bonding): Links people together like themselves (special interest groups, neighborhood associations, hobby clubs…) POWER in numbers:  Help you identify a job goal or find a job  Help you plan for living in your own apartment  Help you find resources and plan to become a home owner

2 Types of Social Capital 2. Acquaintance (Bridging): Social ties that attempt to cut across differences including Race, Gender, Disability, Class, Religion… POWER in numbers:  Rally people together to protest potential funding cuts at your state capital  Ask people to contact their legislature regarding a particular vote

How do you develop your Social Capital (Team Support) 1. Identify what your goal (self awareness) 2. Identify your rights and responsibilities 3. Identify WHO in your social network can help 4. Identify WHO is NOT in your social network that you need to help you reach your goal, and BUILD YOUR NETWORK!!

Maintain and Build your Social Capital Getting Others Interested & Involved in your goal: Appeal to people’s motivations (shared personal & professional interests and self-interest, hobbies, affiliation needs) Find ways to reciprocate (give and take) Avoid yet another meeting or committee approach Make the task appear reasonable

Use your Social Capital to help you TAKE ACTION! Advocates can’t work in isolation There is POWER in Numbers There is POWER in Knowledge Develop your POWERS--- Use your knowledge of relationship building to build your Social Capital to help you TAKE ACTION!